The Women's Law Association of Elon University School of Law hosted its fourth annual Women in the Profession Dinner on April 19. The dinner, which was open to the entire student body and faculty, honored Justice Rhoda Bryan Billings for her service to the public and the legal profession.
Justice Billings served four years as a state District Court judge, from 1968 to 1972, before beginning service on the North Carolina Supreme Court in 1985. She was appointed Chief Justice in 1986, the second woman to head the Court. Justice Billings has served as a law professor at Wake Forest University since 1977, and today is titled Professor Emeritus. She served as President of the North Carolina Bar Association from 1991 to 1992.
Justice Billings is a founding member of the Elon University School of Law Advisory Board. Elon Law’s national moot court competition is named in her honor, together with two other former chief justices of North Carolina’s highest court.
“Justice Billings is a true inspiration to all women aspiring to be attorneys,” second-year law student Kelly Parker said. “The WLA annual dinner is a great opportunity for us to honor women in the legal field who serve this area and have supported not only Elon Law but the WLA as well.”
The purpose of the WLA is to create a system of educational, professional, and personal support and development for all individuals who are concerned with women’s issues and the law.
WLA focuses on the legal, social, cultural, educational, and political issues facing women on both domestic and international levels, as well as in the law school community. This purpose is carried out through many different activities throughout the school year.
In addition to honoring a woman in the legal profession, the annual Women in Profession Dinner is organized to encourage networking between the members of WLA and women in the Greensboro, as well as North Carolina, legal community.
By Danielle Appelman L’12